Grand Rapids Griffins 2012-13

I agree. I'm not saying I want that, just that Smith's partners now are shaky on D and mainly offense-focused guys. Nicastro would be the perfect partner for Smith, but that's assuming Nicastro is ready for top line AHL minutes which is doubtful. Max can't even seem to crack the lineup. I thought he acquitted himself well early in the season but he seems to be riding the pine now.

For him to get a call-up, there needs to be an opening. Who would he replace realistically? He would be useless on the the 4th line. The middle 6 is doing pretty well with the third line really gelling well together. And he isn't going to replace Andersson, Nyquist or Tatar on the top line.

For him to get a call-up, there needs to be an opening. Who would he replace realistically? He would be useless on the the 4th line. The middle 6 is doing pretty well with the third line really gelling well together. And he isn't going to replace Andersson, Nyquist or Tatar on the top line.

I say first call-up is Coetzee before Nestrasil anyways.

Nestrasil/Coetzee will be up, if the NHL ever starts. Nyquist going NHL makes the hole.

EDIT:

McCollum has been with 1.51 GAA and 0.923 save percentage after Mrazek arrived. Better than Mrazek (2.42 GAA, 0.912 sv).

McCollum has been with 1.51 GAA and 0.923 save percentage after Mrazek arrived. Better than Mrazek (2.42 GAA, 0.912 sv).

Mrazeks played the tougher teams and more games. Its clear whose better just from watching them. To be fair to Mccollum hes really cut down on those really bad angle, far out crappy goals that used to deflate all the momentum last season.

Nestrasil can't skate with the AHL top liners and the griffs bottom 6 isnt set up to play much offensive hockey. They have a tough line with Grant and Callahan and then a grinder line for the most part. I cant see Nestrasil fitting in anywhere in that lineup until a few bodies are moved to the NHL

Quote:

Originally Posted by FissionFire

I agree. I'm not saying I want that, just that Smith's partners now are shaky on D and mainly offense-focused guys. Nicastro would be the perfect partner for Smith, but that's assuming Nicastro is ready for top line AHL minutes which is doubtful. Max can't even seem to crack the lineup. I thought he acquitted himself well early in the season but he seems to be riding the pine now.

I actually liked what I saw from Nicastro. He didnt blow me away or anything but he came from college a year earlier than expected and looked fine out there. Hes absolutely huge as well, the only D close to him in size was Evans. He was rolling well with Smith, got injured and the team started winning games so he kinnd of became the odd man out. Callahan had the same thing happen earlier in the year but he got his shot later on and hes ran with it and is playing good hockey now

While the NHL starting will probably see both Coetzee and Nestrasil up, I have to be honest I have been really impressed with the reports coming out on Grand Rapids own and former U of M captain Luke Glendening, who we know can play on bottom lines quite comfortably because of his style of play. He currently leads the team in goals scored and has an absurd shooting percentage of almost 30%. While that would almost have to go down he is having a very good transition to pro hockey and much as they have made the choice to role with Billins over some of the more celebrated prospects with NHL ties to the Wings it would not surprise me to see Glendening get the call over both of his teammates.

While the NHL starting will probably see both Coetzee and Nestrasil up, I have to be honest I have been really impressed with the reports coming out on Grand Rapids own and former U of M captain Luke Glendening, who we know can play on bottom lines quite comfortably because of his style of play. He currently leads the team in goals scored and has an absurd shooting percentage of almost 30%. While that would almost have to go down he is having a very good transition to pro hockey and much as they have made the choice to role with Billins over some of the more celebrated prospects with NHL ties to the Wings it would not surprise me to see Glendening get the call over both of his teammates.

Too bad we don't have a good defenceman down there. NHL possible start takes only Nyquist up for sure (Tatar stays down as long as the injury bug hits big) so there's only one spot more open. Smith makes a spot for defence, that goes probably to Nicastro. I can't see any upside in Fournier anymore.

EDIT:

When Nyquist is up in NHL, I hope Blashill promotes Ferraro to 1st PP unit. They they would have one right handness there. Ferraro has been so good that he deserves the PP time.

The team might not be as thrilling to watch, but Nyquist and Smith shouldn't be dealbreakers for the team to do well, especially when you factor in that many teams lose even more. Almqvist is ready for the 1st PP unit, Nicastro should be a solid PK player, Lashoff can play a slightly bigger role even strength and on the 2nd PP unit. Still a pretty quality line-up.

How much of McCollum's resurgance do you think is due to the lockout? Bedard can pretty much work with him full-time now instead of splitting duties like we always have. I imagine having both Osgood and Bedard there all the time could make a big difference.

He began with a typical rookie beginning to the season (one of the youngest players in the AHL), but he's been steadily improving and now I'm really starting to like this kid's game. He's got all the tools needed to be a star, he just needs to put them together. I really believe that this kid will be our best forward in 4 or 5 years if he keeps developing.

He began with a typical rookie beginning to the season (one of the youngest players in the AHL), but he's been steadily improving and now I'm really starting to like this kid's game. He's got all the tools needed to be a star, he just needs to put them together. I really believe that this kid will be our best forward in 4 or 5 years if he keeps developing.

Hes turned it on lately but hes definitely got some developing to do. Get him and a goalie all alone and its in the back of the net for sure. One thing I really like is he isnt the perimieter type player I was expecting. He gets his nose dirty in the corners and will even throw the odd check

Hes turned it on lately but hes definitely got some developing to do. Get him and a goalie all alone and its in the back of the net for sure. One thing I really like is he isnt the perimieter type player I was expecting. He gets his nose dirty in the corners and will even throw the odd check

That's exactly what Jim Nill told after the draft. He is a product of that slovakian power-forward factory. They don't fight, but they don't hide from dirty areas either. And are skilled as hell. Tatar and Tvrdon also have this same emelent in their game. But Jurco has the highest scoring potential.

My feeling is that Jurco is not a puck carrier nor a puck cycler, especially not the former. He's an off the rush and around the net type of player. I'm pretty sure he's watched a lot of Gaborik growing up. He needs to keep working on core strength and hopefully get even faster. He's absolutely tolerable defensively already(but needs quite a bit of work before NHL play) and he works hard.

It seems like the Griffins have the exact same weakness the Wings do. If you put them up against a big trapping-style team that boxes out and blocks shots constantly, there's almost nothing they can do. Especially the top line. They can't fight through the checks and none of them shoot hard enough to make anybody afraid to block a shot.

It is time to change some of the lines. Although with that said Peoria is setting back hockey 20 years. If I had tried to get somebody interested in hockey tonight it would have failed. Just an awful game and not because the Griffins lost but that 1 high and four back clog the middle strategy is just absolutely boring.